HF 3910

1st Engrossment - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education; proposing a Chinese language curriculum project to
systematically develop Chinese language programs in Minnesota; appropriating
money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin CHINESE LANGUAGE PROGRAMS; CURRICULUM
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Project parameters. new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding other law to the contrary,
the commissioner of education may contract with the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota, the Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA), or
other entity the commissioner determines is qualified to undertake the development of an
articulated K-12 Chinese language curriculum for Minnesota schools that involves:
new text end

new text begin (1) creating a network of Chinese language teachers and educators able to
develop new and modify or expand existing world languages K-12 curricula, materials,
assessments, and best practices needed to provide Chinese language instruction to
students; and
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new text begin (2) coordinating statewide efforts to develop and expand Chinese language
instruction so that it is uniformly available to students throughout the state, and making
innovative use of media and technology, including television, distance learning, and online
courses, to broaden students' access to the instruction.
new text end

new text begin (b) The entity with which the commissioner contracts under paragraph (a) must have
sufficient knowledge and expertise to ensure the professional development of appropriate,
high quality curricula, supplementary materials, aligned assessments, and best practices
that accommodate different levels of student ability and types of programs.
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new text begin (c) Project participants must:
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new text begin (1) work throughout the project to develop curriculum, supplementary materials,
aligned assessments, and best practices; and
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new text begin (2) make curriculum, supplementary materials, aligned assessments, and best
practices equitably available to Minnesota schools and students.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Project participants. new text end

new text begin The entity with which the commissioner contracts
must work with the network of Chinese language teachers and educators to:
new text end

new text begin (1) conduct an inventory of Chinese language curricula, supplementary materials,
and professional development initiatives currently used in Minnesota or other states;
new text end

new text begin (2) develop Chinese language curricula and benchmarks aligned to local world
language standards and classroom-based assessments; and
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new text begin (3) review and recommend to the commissioner how best to build an educational
infrastructure to provide more students with Chinese language instruction, including
how to develop and provide: an adequate supply of Chinese language teachers; an
adequate number of high quality school programs; appropriate curriculum, instructional
materials, and aligned assessments that include technology-based delivery systems;
teacher preparation programs to train Chinese language teachers; expedited licensing of
Chinese language teachers; best practices in existing educational programs that can be
used to establish K-12 Chinese language programs; and technical assistance resources.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $250,000 is appropriated from the general fund in fiscal year 2007 to the
commissioner of education for the purposes of section 1. This is a onetime appropriation.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2006.
new text end